Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Folks:

My nefew, living in San Diego CA, found a frog, or tree frog inside a potted plant in their house. When watering the plant this past year, his mother would find a mysterious hole in the soil. This time she poured the water into this hole that would mysteriously appear weekly even after she covered it up. This time a light grey colored smooth skin frog hopped out. It is about 1.75 inches, webbed hind feet, Olive single stripes from eye to arm. It has been active at day and night.

I'm thinking it is a frog and not a tree frog as it does not cling to vertical surfaces as well as I have seen tree frogs and seems to climb not walk up a vertical surface and also it is awake during the day. A few questions besides ID:

1. His mother is convinced that the Camila leaves that she put inside the holding jar has been eaten by this frog. Is that possible?

2. My Nefew wants to keep it. Its been living in his houseplant for they think at least a year. Is there any reason why he should not? I have Vitamin dust I can give him as I am a Dart frog keeper, his mother already makes trips to the store for crickets for his Mantis. If he can, what set up tips can you give me? Will the typical 5 gallon set up be enough?

Thank you for your kind help,

Maggie

Also, What do you think he might have been eating this whole time? Worms, Slugs? There are not too many insects inside this house? What has he been surviving on?

Thanks-Maggie

snip "My nefew, living in San Diego CA, found a frog, or tree frog inside a potted plant in their house. When watering the plant this past year, his mother would find a mysterious hole in the soil. This time she poured the water into this hole that would mysteriously appear weekly even after she covered it up. This time a light grey colored smooth skin frog hopped out. It is about 1.75 inches, webbed hind feet, Olive single stripes from eye to arm. It has been active at day and night."endsnip

Without a picture its hard to give you a guess.

snip "1. His mother is convinced that the Camila leaves that she put inside the holding jar has been eaten by this frog. Is that possible? "endsnip

No

snip "2. My Nefew wants to keep it. Its been living in his houseplant for they think at least a year. Is there any reason why he should not? I have Vitamin dust I can give him as I am a Dart frog keeper, his mother already makes trips to the store for crickets for his Mantis. If he can, what set up tips can you give me? Will the typical 5 gallon set up be enough"endsnip

Has the plant or any other plants been been moved outside to a patio etc?

Ed

Hi Ed:

You're always a great help. Didn't know you were on this forum too. Yes, the plant was taken outside 1 year ago for repotting and left on a patio for 2 hours. Nearby the pot, his mother tells me, are always families of tree frogs in a Sago Palm. But, I don't think this guy is a tree frog. I think he is just a frog, types that are found in San Diego that don't require as high humidity as a tree frog. At times, they would find a stray poor tree frog in their house having come inside accidentally and dried up on the floor. But, this fellow has been living in that plant for a year inside the house. I'll try to get a picture.

Thanks,

Maggie